The Nation Newspaper

Category: Victor Akande

  • Ovation, as new MD of Film Corporation engages filmmakers

    Ovation, as new MD of Film Corporation engages filmmakers

    THERE have been conjectures of another misfit in the new leadership of the Nigerian Film Corporation (NFC). But stakeholders in the motion picture industry appeared stunned, last Thursday, during their first meeting with the new Managing Director of the Corporation, Dr. Chidia Maduekwe, at the agency’s Lagos Office, where he showed profound understanding of the challenges facing the film sector.

    Every last line of Maduekwe’s speech was greeted with applause, and what more; a standing ovation at the end of the engagement.

    Now, it appears their fears have been allayed, because the new man spoke to their situations, and assured them of, not just a listening ear, but of government policies that will make their businesses thrive.

    According to Maduekwe, “Our film industry today is a net contributor to our national income. Its key performance indicators in the economy clearly show that if properly funded, it can become the single largest contributor to our national income. Indeed, I can confidently say here that we can move from the present two percent to over 10 percent net contribution to our Gross Domestic Product (GDP) within the next five years.”

    He noted that although the film industry has witnessed remarkable growth and development within the last one decade, its contribution to the national economy and job creation is yet to be fully tapped. “To achieve this,” he said, “we must in the first instance integrate the Nigerian film industry into the present administration’s economic diversification agenda,” adding that the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari is serious in reducing dependence on oil.”

    On the need for self-regulation among practitioners, the NFC honcho said, “I will work with you to ensure that MOPICON (Motion Picture Practitioners Council of Nigeria) comes out in a way that, globally, it would be accepted as a regulatory body of repute.”

    The MOPICON draft bill has been forward to the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, who at the beginning of his tenure inaugurated a review committee for same.

    Maduekwe identified some of the challenges of the film industry to include obsolete law, funding, professionalism/ethics, lack of film production facilities, poor distribution and exhibition networks, as well as piracy and intellectual property protection.

    As a way of broadening the distribution platforms, the new NFC man harped on the use of internet and digital marketing as the present and future of movie business. “To advance the boundaries so far established,” he said, “we will collaborate and encourage the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and other service providers to have a dedicated bandwidth access for Nigerian movie industry streaming and marketing. Through this strategy, multiple revenue streams to the creativity of our motion picture practitioners will be better enhanced.”

    On the much talked about piracy scourge, he said: “I believe you will give me your candid and professional advice on the best ways of solving this problem, which I believe has been in the drawing board for over 15 years. We would need to deploy a combination of stiffer legislation and technology to drastically reduce the presence of piracy demons in our industry. It makes nonsense of your creativity, it stiffens your creativity. If by the time you’ve burnt your midnight oil and come up with fantastic work, some other folks in Alaba market just feast on it – or Onitsha market, Kano market, Abuja market or even in Maiduguri market; you can’t rule it out – even Sambisa forest – and mass produce it and sell to Chad and other places – we are saying no to this.  The anti-piracy law by the government shall be on the front burner of the current NFC.”

    He expressed optimism for the positive contributions of Nollywood to the economy and cultural advancement of the country, saying; “South Africa is known for one of the best artillery bomb in the world, but here, we are still producing little firearm armament. But do you know that from Nollywood, you can change the narrative? In the same manner that John Kennedy, who was not a scientist but believed in America said before the end of the decade ‘we’ll put a man in the moon’. It came to pass, did it not? I am standing before you, I am not a professional like you, but we have shared commonality. I am a medical doctor by training. But medicine is not just a science, it is also an art. I and you have shared commonality. I and you believe in one thing, which is it can be great. I and you believe that we can turn things around and make this country greater than it is today, using movies to drive our economy, using movie to drive our technological breakthrough, using movies to drive our social re-engineering in the way we relate to one another, out inter-personal skills, our conduct to one another, using movies to drive away insurgency in our land, all these things are possible.”

    The second phase of the stakeholders’ forum was the introduction of panellists, drawn from among the filmmakers, who engaged other participants on possible solutions to the problems bedevilling the film sector. The exercise, according to Maduekwe, was to develop a roadmap for a new direction in Nollywood.

    “I’ve decided that we shall form three panels among you here to discuss some of these challenges to the Nigerian film industry and urgently come up with practical and applicable recommendation that will form part of our road map to government on how to develop this industry and integrate it into the socio-economic policy of this PMB administration,” he said.

    The NFC boss, who has chosen to hit the ground running, said, “This is action time. The panel will focus on the challenges in the film industry and proffer solutions…Today-today; not tomorrow,” he urged, saying; “No be action una say? We have rolled sound, we have rolled camera, so now is action… We need robust argument, and the audience could oppose the panel when necessary. Let me tell you something, my minister; the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has given me the mandate to come with a roadmap for a new direction in the movie industry that we can take to Mr. President and Mr. President will sign. So, whatever you say today is being recorded so you will not tell me you were not taken along. I want to take every body along!”  He said to a roaring applause.

    The panellists include Mrs. Uche Nwuka, Group Head, Creative Industry Desk at the Bank of Industry (BoI), Ms. Chioma Ude, Founder/CEO of Africa International Film Festival (AFRIFF), Nollywood actress Hilda Dukubo and film producer Opa Williams.

    Others are filmmakers Chris Ekejimbe, Lancelot Oduwa Imasuen, Paul Obazele, Emma Isikaku, Uzor Amadi, Baba Agba, Mrs Peju Adeyemi of Lagos State Film Censorship Board, President of Association of Movie Producers (AMP) Mr. Ralph Nwadike and Chairman of Audio Visual Rights Society, Mr. Bond Emeruwa.

    Other filmmakers at the event include Chief Eddie Ugboma, Kunle Afolayan, Iyen Agbonifo, and Mykel Parish.

  • NFC: Anyone but Dadu

    WHILE some practitioners in the film industry are crying wolf over the new appointments in the culture and entertainment sector, my take, especially for the Nigerian Film Corporation, was that, rather than renew the appointment of erstwhile MD of the Corporation, Engr Danjuma Dadu, it should be just anyone.  Dadu has been tested for four years, and it became clear to all what a square peg in a round hole he turned out.

    I am indifferent to the appointment of Dr. Chidia Maduekwe as the new boss of NFC. This was exactly the treatment I accorded Dadu when in May, 2013, he was so named. Until a man is tested, there should be no result of a pass or fail. I am a journalist, and I do not see why I won’t take a similar appointment, if I am so bestowed. Wetin dey there abeg? After all, how many presidents of Nigeria, past and present studied Political Science in school? How many were Ward Counselors, Local Government Chairmen, State Governors, House of Reps members or Senators before being elected or made president?

    This is another ‘Game of Thrones’ as far as I am concerned. And until members of the film industry are politically mature for such appointments, I beg us to take what we get in our stride, and pray we would be fortunate to see these gambles play out in our favour. It really does not matter who heads the NFC.

    I use the word ‘We’ because I am as interested as any stakeholder who wants the best for the film industry. Let’s also say that I am tired of reporting negative stories about the leadership of these agencies and bitter politics of guilds and association. Who negative story epp sef? Thank God Box Office earnings are on the rise.

    I have learnt in life that a good friend is better than a bad brother – a friend here being a non-practitioner of film helming the NFC and a brother being a filmmaker in the same position. I bet that if the film industry is asked to organize primaries for candidates to the NFC or National Film and Video Censors Board (NFC), it might end in series of litigations outliving the election itself.

    For a film industry that is as divided as the boundaries in the Nigerian map, how to attain unity in diversity without considering a proposition like the Motion Picture Practitioners Council of Nigeria (MOPICON) may continue to be an illusion.

    Need I say that those calling for protest over these appointments are merely crying over spilled milk – perhaps because it didn’t pour in their mouths or in those of members of their camp, as against genuine interest for the film industry.

    Like someone said: “You can never satisfy Nigerians, as long as the person appointed is not “my person”, then it is always a wrong appointment.

    “There is nothing like the perfect person, I believe we should see how they perform on the job first before we start condemning their appointments.”

    What I think the industry’s agencies need are visionary, intelligent, selfless and result-oriented leaders. Who says it is only among the filmmakers that we can get those? Who says it only a filmmaker that can protect a filmmaker’s interest? And with the cat-and-mouse relationship that exists among filmmakers, who says a neutral person is not what the industry needs for sanity to prevail?

    We can only hope and pray that Oga Maduekwe turns out to be that unassuming leader that the film industry needs, irrespective of his background as a medical doctor. One of the prayer points should also be that God should make him a fast learner and good listener who can steer the ship of existing technocrats.

    In this new journey of hope, let’s just say that the hand of a doctor is therapeutic… not like the violent repairs by the sledgehammer of an engineer.

  • A word for Obama, new honcho of Censors Board

    LIKE an uncertain lover, the news was received with reservation, when Thomas Adedayo was named the new Executive Director of the National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB).

    Although the announcement came with great relief, it was received with more expectations, because, while the film industry continues to thrive through individual efforts, the lot of government’s regulatory/support agency like the Censors Board is not up to speed. As a matter of fact, producers and marketers have never had it bad with the Censors Board the way it had been in the last four years.

    In journalism, we say a writer is as good as his last byline, just as a filmmaker, as his last movie: the Censors Board is as good as the tenure of its erstwhile Director-General, Emeka Mba. And the last four years had only been about the memory of a man who himself was yet to deliver fully on his promises before being taken away. In those four years, the industry had moved double-pace with award-winning movies, Box Office earnings like never-before-experienced and international profiling of Nollywood like the Toronto International Film Festival exposure in September of last year. As it stands today, Thomas Adedayo is saddled with completing Emeka Mba’s projects, cover the deficit of the last four years, catch up with the extra pace of Nollywood’s growth before running his own race as Executive Director of an agency that, in my estimation, is more accountable to the film industry than the Nigerian Film Corporation (NFC) which prides itself with the apex ranking.

    By accountability, I am talking about the sanity of the distribution space through classification and enforcement and extended functions, such as seminars, licensing for distribution and marketing of Nigeria’s films and image for financial and diplomatic advantages.

    Thomas Adedayo is on a hot seat. I do not envy him.

    But who says this job is beyond a novice who may be blessed with managerial ability, passion for success, a fast learner, a good listener? It doesn’t matter how a man gets to a position, how he leaves the position is what matters most.

    I have often cited the case of my friend, Ayeni Adekunle Samuel, CEO of Black House Media (BHM) who studied Microbiology in school. Not only did he leave a remarkable imprint as a practising journalist, he is a proven entrepreneur, and today, a force to reckon with in the Public Relations Consultants Association of Nigeria (PRCAN).

    The story of George Lucas is also not new to many: talking about how the once race-car driver has become a revered name in Hollywood with Star Wars franchise.

    For Adedayo Thomas, I am enamoured of his resume – his media and theatre background – which shows he is one of a kind.

    I am also optimistic of the Buhari’s government’s diversification policy to boost the creative non-oil sector of the economy. And because it is no time to make mistakes again, I want to believe the Federal Government has chosen the right man for the NFVCB job.

    I was curious like any other stakeholder in the film sector, that I started searching the internet for Adedayo Thomas, shortly after he was announced by the Federal Government as the new honcho of the NFVCB. I stumbled on a remark by a gentleman, Gilbert Mfitundinda (I think he is a Ugandan, based in the U.S.), congratulating the new NFVCB boss. His words were encouraging.

    He said: “Congratulations on your appointment my friend Adedayo Thomas. You are such a servant leader. I remember the time I got to spend with you in Mukono-Uganda. Your conversations and insights left me a better person. Thank you for your services, they never go un-noticed and that’s why even the president had to recognise them.”

    Hmmm. Even before finding the profile of Thomas Adedayo, his major posts on Facebook were from developmental events he had either organised personally or papers delivered to youths on entrepreneurship, touring the African continent.

    However, let me attempt a summary of his two-page resume, and see if Dayo Aduke-Thomas, aka Obama, is one of the voices that the film industry needs to coast to Eldorado.

    “…A Journalist, Liberal Political and Economic Advocate, Theatre Artist/Critic and Philanthropist with strong believe in Free Market Economy, Peace and Prosperity. He is the Executive Director/Publisher of African Liberty Organisation for Development (ALOD) –A non-profit Think-Tank that strives to promote ideas and institutions of the free society in Africa. He is also the Africa Regional Director of Language of Liberty Institute, USA. At the Initiative for Public Policy Analysis (IPPA), he is the Director of Research and Operations.

    “…A regular guest speaker at over 50 universities spread across African continent on developmental and policy issues is a board member of several Non-Profit Organization including but not limited to Istanbul Network for Liberty.UK, Foundation for Economic Initiative and Development.

    “…Adedayo has a B A (Theatre Arts) and Post Graduate Diploma in Public Relations from University of Jos and Nigerian Institute of Journalism respectively, a Diplomate of Cato University, USA in Philosophy, History, Jurisprudence, and Economics of Liberty and an MBA in Think -Tank Management from the Atlas Economic Research Foundation in Washington D.C. He also bagged a Master’s degree in Development Studies from the Nigerian Defense Academy. Kaduna. Nigeria

    “…He has written, presented and published several papers on economic development, Theatre Arts, conflict, good governance and democracy at national and international conferences. He co-authored -A letter from Jonathan Gullible based on the original novel, The Adventures of Jonathan Gullible by Ken Schoolland.

    “…As a core evangelist of a free society, Adedayo carries his messages to University students in English speaking African Institutions in Nigeria, Ghana, Zimbabwe, Kenya, South Africa, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Uganda and a host of others. He is mostly seen in the Nigerian Parliament in defense of sound policies and features in both local and international media.

    “…He published Victor Dugga’s two award-winning plays called ‘A bridge of Strings and Hope Harvesters’, ‘Had I known and April 1421 by Tor J. Iorapuu, In Defense of Global Capitalism by Johan Norberg, Selected Essays on Political Economy by Frederic Bastiat, Twenty Myths about Markets by Tom G. Palmer, A letter from Jonathan Gullible (a play based on the original novel, The Adventures of Jonathan Gullible by Ken Schoolland), Voices from Africa edited by George Ayittey and The African Version of “The Morality of Capitalism titled The Free Markets and Justice. The African Version of After the Welfare State retitled The Bubble that Crashed the World Economy, and many others.”

    On this note, I wish to say, I do not know why you are so called, but that nick name, as many will agree, is not derogatory. So, I say welcome, Obama, to the industry of creatives. If you get the distribution framework right, I bet the filmmakers will be grateful. Its effect is far-reaching, including a succour from the much dreaded piracy. Bonne Arrivée!

  • Loyalty in competition

    AS this year’s edition of social lifestyle reality show, Big Brother Naija inches towards the finals, there are remarkable changes in the tempo of game that evoke food-for-thought – loyalty in competition.

    There are six contestants left in the competition, as true to what organisers and viewers would consider the real essence of the game, hostility, intrigues, gossips and tension are the order of the day in this 11th hour of BBNaija. Interestingly, the six are divided into two – four against two – with Efe, Bisola, Marvis and Bally in one camp, while T-Boss and Debie-Rise make up the other.

    Although this alliance, which invariably is to see that no member of either group misses the final, will collapse naturally any time after tomorrow, after which every man will be to themselves – as only one winner will eventually emerge from the process.

    For example, Bisola, on Wednesday, was in her usual comic albeit serious way, campaigning for Marvis and Bally. In the end she said, “But come next week, vote for me…”

    Bisola and Efe have shown a great level of loyalty by not putting their allies up for possible eviction in this game, and it is interesting to see that those who showed more desperation have been sacked from the show.

    Bisola and Efe recognise that they are contenders for the prize money, but have never nominated each other for possible eviction. Bally, who is somewhat close to these two had on several occasions nominated them, making it clear to Biggie during his Diary Sessions that he wanted to get them out because they constitute a threat to him in the game. T-Boss, despite her romance with Miyonse, was among the housemates who nominated him for eviction. ThinTallTony had put up Bisola for possible eviction despite their romance, just as Uriel had put up CocoIce and Debie-Rise who confided in her at separate times and looked up to her as an advisor.

    While this appears to be the normal thing in a competition of this nature, Bisola and Efe appear to be changing the rule, so much so it is working in their favour. Yes, because of a truth, the probability of a winner emerging between these two is very high, going by the percentage of votes they have garnered during the periods they were put up for possible eviction. At the moment, it is difficult to tell who between them has a stronger fan base on the show because they have never been up for eviction at the same time, so as to know who scored what votes from the viewers.

    But I like the new spirit that these two have brought to the game despite knowing that they constitute a threat to themselves. As Bisola put it, “I know that Efe is a threat, but I will not nominate him. I would leave God and the viewers to decide…”

    As if that was not enough, Bisola, having won the Head of House for this week, was asked to save one housemate and replace with another last Monday. Efe was among the housemates up for possible eviction. She chose to save him and put up Bally instead – meaning that she and Efe are sure for the finals, plus any other housemate(s) who may not be consumed by tomorrow’s live eviction show.

    For Bisola and Efe, I doff my hat for being loyal to themselves in the face of competition. It only shows their level of self-confidence, high self-esteem and spirit of sportsmanship.

    Indeed: “The race is not to the swift or the battle to the strong, nor does food come to the wise or wealth to the brilliant or favour…” either Bisola or Efe, being the leaders in their group will live this mantra come upper Sunday April 9, 2017 when the winner of the N25 million and a brand new Kia Seranto car will be announced. This is not to say that with the new aggression from fans of either camp, the vote for T-Boss and Debie-Rise wouldn’t improve remarkably. It is noteworthy that Debie-Rise has showed she has more fan base than T-Boss twice that they have been put up for eviction together.

  • BETWEEN LAGBAJA AND BIGGIE

    BETWEEN LAGBAJA AND BIGGIE

    ONE of the myths of the Big Brother show is the voice of the chief voyeur and instructor called Biggie. He is to be heard, not seen; neither by the housemates nor the fans of the show – only by his clients who would do anything to conceal his identity.

    The curious case of this stern and sometimes genial personality, one could say is similar to that of Nigeria’s mask styled Afrocentric singer, Bisade Ologunde, aka Lagbaja, who separates his career personality from his person.

    But just as some people have bumped into the singer without his mask, many would have bumped into Biggie without knowing he is the one.

    Such is a celebrity status that celebrates the inner person and painfully so, a stardom that is concealed by contract.

    Those who think they know big brother were wrong, because the organisers are smarter to modulate the voice even further. Come to think of it, it is a serious disservice to try to know the face behind the voice, as to give up his alibi, as such revelation would mean the end of a contract for the ‘spirit’ man.

    The only set of people who know Biggie so well are the housemates who, although have not seen him physically, but have come to build a mental image, going by their daily interaction had some sense of intimacy.

    Indeed, Big Brother is all you need to know of him. He is a voice, not a person in a way. That is why he’d always respond to the housemates’ greeting by saying: ‘Big Brother is fine, Big Brother is always fine.’

    Those who follow the show closely would tell you that each time you think you have Biggie figured out; he takes an entirely different direction.

    Few weeks back, the task by Biggie was centered on art, and housemates were asked to allow their imagination gallop away as they draw what they imagine an invisible force like Big Brother, who is everywhere and sees everything, would look like if he were a human being. The outcome was very interesting.

    Efe came up with an interesting picture that depicted Biggie as a faceless, yet ubiquitous person who sees everything. Debie Rise depicted Biggie as a father figure who is warm and stern at the same time, while TTT drew Biggie as a faceless yet omnipresent person.

    Uriels’ imagination had to do with a man who wore glasses and was part of the beard gang, while TBoss depicted him as a Cyclops with one eye that could see everything. She even gave him a funny hairdo. As for Marvis, she just scrawled the word ‘Big Brother’ and perched a crown at the end of the word Big, while Kemen’s picture was a bit confusing. The only visible thing on it is the Big Brother logo.

    While listening to their reasons for picturing him the way they did, Big Brother commended housemates and told them that the Big Brother house was also a forum for continuous and constant learning as well as an avenue for showcasing their creativity.

    Indeed, housemates captured the many faces of Big Brother and as eviction day drew closer, no one knew which face Big Brother was going to put on in this game where a whopping N25 million is at stake.

    Indeed the housemates were all correct; Biggie was everything they ever painted, even more than they ever imagined.

  • Gifty: Stardom isn’t for liars

    Gifty: Stardom isn’t for liars

    I have seen Gifty, the evicted housemate in the ongoing Big Brother Naija (BBNaija) show cry a couple of times in the house – her tears were as phoney as her accents and flawed as her grammatical gaffes.

    Thus, when she seemingly broke down in tears on HipTV recently, while confessing she was once married, I got one of the most irritations of my life.

    Recall that in my last piece, I described this fair-skinned lady as a natural game player, when, after leaving the BBNaija house, she stuck to her guns, claiming zero knowledge of the man called David Sorochukwu Akumah, her ‘former’ husband. I did say the suspense will one day get an ending, without knowing the end will be this soon.

    Now that it seems Gifty is tired of fooling herself, discerning minds are still waiting for more confessions because, merely claiming she was naïve when she got married is nothing short of half-truth. Before she can get the public sympathy which appears to be what she is craving at the moment, Gifty should tell the world what she meant by being naïve. It is not impossible that she may have her own meaning. By being naïve, was she forced into marriage? If yes, by who? And if she believes she is ripe for marriage now, it is important to know if she intends to return to her husband, unless, as claimed by Augustine Akumah, David’s cousin, she is running her mother’s script.

    Meanwhile, if what she is trying to sell to the world is a story of domestic violence, she would need more evidence to disprove the current good impression that people have about the Akumah family in the contest of her marriage.

    Until then, the empathy is to David, who appears to have fallen for the wrong woman.

    While it is not clear the real factors responsible for the breakup, as neither Gifty nor David have made any comment on the issue, there are indications David was in love with Gifty.

    Fetched from his Facebook account, on April 5, 2014, David Sorochukwu Akumah wrote: “We happily invite U 2 our white weddn on 6th April 9am:@Assemblies of God Odunikwe. 12pm:Receptn @WDC Ai. Akumah Dave & Brain Gifty.”. On August 3, 2014, he wrote: “She’s my wife, my BF(best friend),my queen, my mother, my soulmate, my joy and my forever heartbeat. “Without the Heartbeat in Me, I Can’t Be Alive”…A Splendid Sunday to You, HUN!” On September 6, 2014, David Sorochukwu Akumah added 3 new photos — with Ogechukwu Amos. He captioned them with these words: “Watch my wife on her action moves, especially in “Nkoli nwa nsukka”… that’s when she comes in with her flow, lol..lol *Congrats wify*”. On September 10, 2014, he added two new photos and captioned them thus: “My queen, My Wife, My Beauty, My Soul, My Heartbeat, My Princess, My Everlasting Gift.. I blessed the day I found you, you’re one in a ZILLION girls… No matter what happens I will never let you go, I will forever love you even in death…you will always be my WIFE! I miss you my JOY! Keep rocking NOLLYWOOD! I gat ya back.”

    However, this related post from Gifty’s Facebook since October 26, 2014 is pregnant with innuendos.

    She said: “Sometimes we do things that we think is right…but not knowing you hurting someone’s feelings….Love they say can be broken only if you treat it like an egg it is…….. And if it’s broken then don’t blame anyone but yourself because it was your duty to treat it properly….. #FACTS#”

    Going by the long disparaging epistle written by Augustine Akumah over Gifty’s denials, it appears the latter is the faction in this drama that has something to hide.

    Even when Augustine shared photos from the wedding which was attended by former governor of Ebonyi State, Sam Egwu, Gifty claimed it was photo-shopped.

    The truth is that right now, it is pretty difficult to divorce Gifty from lies and fakery. The name of the game in which she marketed herself to the world is called ‘Reality Show’, not some scripted Asaba movies she has featured in. The audience see through the characters of the housemates, and didn’t even need the David Akumah’s twist to know that Gifty was an impostor.

    This she admitted to The Nation in an interview where she claimed that the kisses and accents were faked because of the N25 million prize.

    Now, having lost that money, she continues to swim in controversy that wouldn’t make any brand want to touch her. There is no evidence that her marriage was dissolved legally. And the Mr2 Kay she was romantically linked with was the same guy that accompanied her to the AMVCAs and the eviction party organised for the so-far evicted housemates.

    I hope that Gifty’s case is not like that of the proverbial lunatic who is exciting to watch but not worthy of being called a relative. It is noteworthy that Uriel, who was evicted after Gifty, has bagged an endorsement as brand ambassador for Payporte.

    Indeed, stardom isn’t for liars.

  • Consent is a three-letter word

    THE International Women’s Day celebrated last Wednesday, among other things, provided several insights into sexual relationships between people of the opposite sex. There were several platforms of social change campaign on that day. The talks were so thought-provoking that the issue of rape or sexual assault does not exonerate legally married couples, let alone other forms of attractions. I learnt that even a marriage does not take away the emotional right of a woman neither does it impair her right of choice. The tagline is: ‘as much is your wife is yours, she is only yours for the asking’.  Therefore, you need a YES from a woman to cross over to that land, even though when signing the dotted line, she had ceded it to you.

    The magic word is YES. You may choose to call it accord, agreement, permission, approval, assent or in other parlance; password, gate pass, access code etcetera, they all point to consent and its three-letter word brother – YES.

    By the way, an incident occurred in the Big Brother Naija House last Sunday that resulted in the dismissal of brawny housemate, Kemen. He allegedly groped TBoss while she was asleep. This occurrence came handy for the organisers of the show to educate the other Housemates through a seminar titled ‘Consent is Sexy’.

    The two-woman team of facilitators took the Housemates through a lesson on effective communication and how learning to listen to your conversation partner was key to understanding each other and forging a meaningful relationship.

    I heard words like ‘saying yes to one thing does not amount to yes for others’ and I reason that a man needs as many yeses as possible to take a woman from foreplay to orgasm and vice versa.

    It was assumed that although TBoss allowed Kemen on her bed, put her head on his shoulder, got him to give her a massage, the latter should not have assumed that the former had agreed to his sexual advances. When the video of Kemen’s hand movement was screened to TBoss the next morning, she broke down in tears, saying she had been violated.

    Kemen was said to have crossed the line, as TBoss’ consent to him was not total. Indeed, she had declined his sexual advances on several occasions, and only lowered her guard to create room for an avuncular mien.

    The ex BBN Housemate agreed he crossed the line when he said, “I overplayed my game” in a public apology rendered to TBoss, other women and his fans on International Women’s Day.

    Sharing the apology via his Instagram account, he said further: “I knew that everybody was playing the game in the house at the same time competing for the prize. I realised that I overplayed my game which brought about my disqualification”.

    This was just as other housemates apologised to TBoss for their initial reaction when Kemen was sent packing. Kemen had dropped parting words that suggested he was innocent and the other housemates thought he was being framed-up by TBoss.

    Meanwhile, the facilitators sealed the day off with some pizza for all, and then left the Housemates reciting the ‘Consent Is Sexy’ pledge.

    It was the same feel everywhere last Wednesday. For example, an organization called Women at Risk International Foundation (WARIF), addressed the high incidence of rape and sexual violence of all young girls and women.

    Some notable male celebrities lent their voices to the Foundation’s campaign theme for 2017: “Be Bold for Change”, helping to raise awareness, educate and advocate for social change as it concerns women and young girls.

    One of them, Uti Nwachukwu wrote: “Women should be loved. Women should be cared for. Women should be treated with respect. Women should be adored. Women are the future. My name is Uti Nwachukwu and I stand against any form of violence and discrimination against women.”

  • Of reality shows and keeping it real (2)

    THINTALLTONY may go the way of Gifty who left two weeks ago with nothing. If that happens, apart from losing the N25 million and brand new Kia Seranto car – for which he had declared his entire family dead – he will need more lies to cover the attendant shame.

    It’s a different world outside here, away from the Big Brother house, and we, the spectators see the game clearer. Of course, we are witnesses of the dramatic ironies in the relationship among housemates, we follow comments by other viewers and know where the game is tilting towards. We also get access to people and information that tend to confirm the real identity of each housemate when they choose to lie.

    First, it was Gifty who denied she was ever married when confronted with news of her purported wedding to film director; David Sorochukwu Akumah. Every other thing Gifty did – the kisses, faulty accents, pretense, etc – was faked because, according to her, this was about the N25 million prize. However, she remains adamant to reports of her marriage, calling them rumours, even when Akumah’s cousin presented evidences of the wedding ceremony.

    After being evicted from the Big Brother show, The Nation was the first to ask Gifty about the issue of her marriage, which she said was a rumour. But I picked hole in her denial when, even after showing pictures of the wedding ceremony and an invitation card bearing photos of her and David, she claimed not to know the latter from Adam. Haba! It could have been smarter of Gifty to at least acknowledge David as her movie director and to say the pictures were taken from a film’s movie scene than to dismiss all the elements in the report.

    To continue to play games after leaving the BBN house only points to the fact that Gifty is a natural ‘game player’. In our chat with her, I recall how in one statement she claimed that her accents were original, and in another quick switch, she admitted that she indeed faked them.

    The story continued as recently, one Augustine Akumah, a cousin to David released several photos from the wedding ceremony. Obviously, the details are too much for a movie scene. So, who is Gifty fooling? What does it matter if she admitted she was once married, but had to walk out of the marriage for reasons she would not want to divulge. But to tell a lie and stick to it even in the face of evidences staring her in the face is absurd.

    Augustine shared photos from the wedding which was attended by former governor of Ebonyi State, Sam Egwu, and I keep pondering about the power of such a movie that had the former governor in a cameo appearance.

    The whistle blower said: #GiftyBBN… It’s appalling that you will never in your life be truthful even when you are caught in the act. JESUS!

    I am Eng. David Akumah’s Cousin who refused to be quiet even though my family members are mostly scholars and God fearing,…and wish not to meddle with things that will bring more disgrace to the family’s name…but now I say Enough is Enough…”

    The piece, which is rather a long one, has gone viral, and something tells me that Augustine is the one saying the truth here. What does he stand to gain writing such an epistle that reveals his family identity? This guy knows her so well, and if indeed her hands are clean, it should be easy for her to say, ‘this is the reason this guy is trying to run me down’ rather than claim not to have knowledge of her ‘detractor’. If this is the way Gifty wants to attain ‘power and fame’ which she craves, I can only wish her well. But this drama will surely have an ending, no matter how long the suspense lasts.

    About ThinTallTony, such denials have demeaned him as well, and his fans are already getting irritated by the way and manner he is playing the BBN game. After getting erotic with Bisola and stealing kisses from TBoss, this guy is quoted to have said he his single ‘by the grace of God’ and that his family is dead as he has no one to return to after the show. Meanwhile, his wife and mother are already revealing themselves on social media. How do these add up?

    Unfortunately for his lies, some guy knew ThinTallTony so well before the BBN show, and had indirectly hinted Bisola to tread carefully, to which she said whatever happens does not go beyond Big Brother house.

    While Bisola has a seven-year-old daughter that she talks about in the house, ThinTallTony and Gifty have somewhat fallen short of expected realness which I think is the peg of a lifestyle reality TV show such as the BBN. Afterall, Tanzania’s Richard Dyle Bezuidenhout did not deny his marriage. And despite getting romantic with a fellow housemate and labelled controversial, he won the Big Brother Africa reality show in 2007.

    To affirm that ThinTallTony does not have the kind of huge fan base he may fantasize about is to go back to the record of the eviction show which took place two weeks ago. While Marvin scored the highest votes, ThinTallTony got lesser votes from fans and only beat Gifty, his fellow impostor by few margins. Of course, ThinTallTony is immune against this Sunday’s eviction after winning the Head of House task, he is sure in the eye of storm going further.

  • YOUR EXCELLENCY: ‘GLOCALISING’ THE SOUTH-WEST WITH ODUNLADE

    YOUR EXCELLENCY: ‘GLOCALISING’ THE SOUTH-WEST WITH ODUNLADE

    EACH time I see Nollywood actor, Odunlade Adekola, in that Goldberg billboard ad called ‘Your Excellency’, I reason that, with adequate self-esteem, there is a unique sense of style in every local product. From Nollywood, which is redefining Africa’s narrative in terms of storytelling, to Afrobeat and other afro-related hip hop music that have popularised Nigerian artistes and earned them collaborations with their American counterparts, and of course, our visual art which has gained prominence in Iwalewa House (Iwalewahaus), Yoruba word for ‘character is beauty’, named after the University of Bayreuth, Germany, a place for the production and presentation of contemporary African art. With these and several other artistic exports from our dear country, I am hopeful that other forms of productions would take a cue, and find a global space for our local products.

    Undoubtedly, there is a global yearning for the Nigerian product, hence the need to boost our tourism industry with systemic approach. I find a catch phrase like ‘Your Excellency’, a selling point for the product that in turn, promotes a people’s culture. Of course, our tourism is about our tangible and intangible products married as a total package for the consumption of others.

    As a tourist, there is a unique feeling for me, ordering a German-brewed beer in Germany or savouring a brand like ‘Amarula – The Spirit Of Africa’ during a trip around the continent. What about that attachment that comes with slogans such as: ‘Kenyan Airways -The Pride of Africa’ and ‘Ethiopian Airways – The New Spirit of Africa’?

    Now, why shouldn’t an American look forward to a date with ‘Your Excellency’ when visiting Nigeria. I imagine that such a feeling is bound to further sell our ‘Dansiki’, an attire proudly sported by the Nollywood actor in that billboard, or the ‘Gangan’ (talking drum) he brandishes.

    Minister of Information, Culture and National Orientation, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, once said that tourism is very important for Nigeria in the prevailing period of economic diversification as it, with the creative industries, represents the new oil for the nation’s economy. I could not agree less.

    Indeed, our culture and home-made products are the low-hanging fruits that the nation could develop to help the economy fight recession.

    This ‘Your Excellency’ billboard speaks volume about the Yoruba culture. While I see the beverage as a food and local brew of the people of South-West Nigeria (after all, promoters of beer say it is indeed food and water rolled in one), Odunlade’s choice cuts the right personality (as a culture promoter via his films), as well as a fitting carriage for the ‘Dansiki’ attire, while the ‘Gangan’, serves well as a message carrier. This product promotion brings to mind, the tradition of the Yorubas, known as the descendants of Oduduwa.

    Before modern civilization infiltrated the culture of many tribes and ethnic communities, the Yoruba people of South-West Nigeria, had fashioned out the way to entertain themselves. During traditional festivals, chieftaincy coronation, naming ceremonies, wedding and all sorts of events, they use their drum for entertainment and eulogy.

    In an interview with The Nation, a professor of choreography and foremost dramatist, Rasaki Ojo-Bakarei, described drumming as an essential part of Yoruba culture that is entrenched in all social activities. Ojo-Bakare, who is currently the Dean of School of Humanities at the Federal University of Oye Ekiti, said drumming is like tonic and energetic to social activities among the Yorubas. The Yorubas parade different drums for various activities such Gangan, Bata, Gbedu, Saworoide etc.

    It is interesting that as these things seem, they help to pass a tradition from one generation to another:  For example, how the tradition and art of drumming is passed on, effortless, has to do with the different festive occasions. As a vital part of the cultural heritage of the people, whenever there is a wedding, funeral, coronation, anniversary celebration among others, there are usual sights of drummers.  In the South-West villages, towns and cities, there are always drummers plying their trade on weekends even without having any specific invitation to big occasions.

    In recent times, global and local brands that want to resonate with the people, have suddenly realised the need to connect with the people through drumming. For instance, in announcing the credential campaign which was used to christen Goldberg, promoters of the brand saw drum as a symbol of unity and leveraged on it in all their campaigns.

    With this, Nigerian Breweries Plc simply caused a stir in the market place, as the successful use of the drum performed the charismatic splendour of ushering in ‘Your Excellence’. This is just as Heineken is being addressed as ‘Chairman’ while Trophy, a strong competition to Goldberg is known as ‘Honourable’. I think other brands should take a lesson of catch phrases from the beer market.

  • What does Gifty know?

    What does Gifty know?

    THERE is something about Big Brother Naija housemate, Gifty, that not only puts you off, but makes you wonder if she is worth being in the competition.

    As one would observe, every housemate has got one form of talent or another and the one that seems central to all of them is music. But only Gifty is left out in this aspect, judging by her inability to sing or rap. I’ve also watched the dance session and her moves are so sloppy. The other thing expected of a lifestyle reality show of this nature is how sociable the housemates are, but it is difficult to tell where this housemate came from and what form of orientation she’d kept such that she is so clueless to a lot of things going on in the entertainment circle.

    Indeed, there are two activities that Gifty is usually alive to in the house; Kissing Festival and Truth or Dare Game: both weird and less skillful exercises that she only uses to express her sexuality, as if that is the only thing that would endear viewers to her. Except of course, shouting around the house like a village hunter.

    If I didn’t get proof of the fact that Gifty had acted in some Asaba films, it would be difficult to believe that she is an actress as claimed. Little wonder, her experience in acting is limited to the set of her supposed husband and film director, David Sorochukwu Akumah, playing some village girl roles that couldn’t give her the kind of Genevieve Nnaji’s fame she craved.

    As if it was not bad enough that she does not know comic rapper and rave-of-the-moment Falz the Bahd Guy, she was asking who Banky W was when he visited the house. And of course, she caught the ire of viewers of the show when she told Biggie during a Diary Room session that she didn’t like his surprise guest Banky W, as she felt he was proud and full of himself. If there was any one that Biggie had to put in checks apart from Uriel’s lousy diary session, Gifty was next, as Biggie had to remind her of the stake of the BBNaija game. Biggie recognised the fact that she might upset her fans (if she has any) with her careless choice of words.

    As it seems, Gifty’s knowledge of the music industry is around Flavour and Mr 2Kay, the two singers she is romantically linked with.

    Talking about choice of words, I have never found this housemate articulate in her expressions. This has put a big question mark to her level of intelligence.

    Gifty’s personality in the house has gone from bad to worse, if comments by viewers of the show are anything to go by. From her inconsistent accent and habit of hopping from one male housemate to another, viewers have referred to her as fake and a liar.

    It was surprising that only Gifty saw ‘Mr Capable’ in that light when indeed the others let out a cry of disappointment as the buzzer signaled the end to Banky W’s visit.

    Banky W had used his peculiar journey in the entertainment industry to motivate the housemates into being true to themselves. He also advised them to be comfortable with their innate talents, and to use that as a spring board to launch themselves into their true element. I guess Gifty felt different and out of place because she has not expressed any talent.

    When asked by the visiting singer what she would want out of life, she said power and fame. Well, where lies this power in Gifty? In her light skin and seeming beauty?

    Dear Gifty, if you are evicted from the game tomorrow, just know that you have not wielded that power appropriately and might just have been famous for displaying serial ignorance.